THE STORY:

The Fight Starts Now! - Please support the war against fake news by helping to fund a recently launched innovative program aimed at inspiring and recruiting the next generation of journalists.

On April 16th, the Foundation for Letters, a NYC non-profit that specializes in urban literacy programs, as the official charity of this year's Brooklyn 15K, is raising money and awareness about the need to educate high school students about fake news. FFL believes key to that fight is the need to inspire the next generation of journalists, and empower high school students to join the ranks of professionals and citizens looking to combat, on social media and elsewhere, the growing problem of hoaxes and online fabrications.

That's why I am excited to be running in a fundraiser with other supporters of FFL on April 16th. Please consider running with me, or donating to my run.

The money raised by the event will go to toward funding an innovative journalism workshop aimed at educating NYC high school students about the need for legitimate journalism at a time when the profession is coming under attack, both politically and because of a lack of resources. The multi-session workshop takes place throughout the school year, and draws students ages 14-18 from high schools around NYC. The workshop takes students some of the top news rooms in the country, including CNN, NBC, and the New York Times, and, through a curriculum that has been prepared and vetted by top journalists the workshop teaches student journalists how to cover community events and gives them a platform to spread their work on social media and elsewhere.

Please help me exceed my goal of raising $1,000 for this important cause.

Full Disclosure: I will be running on April 16th along with my two daughters and wife, but not at the Brooklyn event. I promise to provide proof on social media of our family 5K.

The Foundation for Letters supports hundreds of students that attend over 30 different New York City schools in some of the country’s most in need congressional districts by engaging them with writing in ways otherwise unavailable to them.

You can show your support by donating to me.

Or you can run yourself in the actual event: REGISTER HERE and click on fundraise, and then select 2017 run under event. You will get an email the following business day with your very own Crowdrise profile on my team. All contributions over $50 score you one 5K race entry (10K & 15K spots also available). TO SUPPORT: If you can't join us this time around, you can still show your team spirit by donating to our team. Click "Donate to this Fundraiser" to make your meaningful contribution. Every bit helps us fulfil our mission improve college access for urban high school students. Thank you! Stay tuned for exciting updates, new team members and details as we get closer to race day! Questions? Contact FFL Executive Director, Sarose Klein: sarose.klein@foundationforletters.org or email me: stephengandel@gmail.com

DONATION: $50

Hally & Greg Bayer

DONATION: $50

Ann & Jason Kurtz

DONATION: $25

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